The Iowa State Capitol Building: A History and Tour of the Golden Dome

The Iowa State Capitol building is a beautiful example of Second Empire architecture. It was built between 1871 and 1886, and it is the seat of government for the state of Iowa. The first capitol of Iowa was located in Burlington, but it was moved to Des Moines in 1857. The first capitol building in Des Moines was a three-story brick building, but it was destroyed by fire in 1858. In 1870, the General Assembly of Iowa established a Capitol Commission to design and build a new capitol building. The commission chose Alfred Piquenard as the architect, and construction began in 1871. The capitol building was dedicated on January 17, 1884. It is 275 feet tall, and it has a golden dome that is 23 and 3/4 karats. The dome has been gilded five times, most recently in 1995. The capitol building is made of a variety of materials, including limestone, marble, and wood. There are 109 rooms in the capitol, each one with its own unique design. The building also contains a number of works of art, including pa